HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-03-24 08-129 ORDERIcem Mo. 08 129
Date: 3-29-00
Rem/Subject ORDER, Accepting Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant — Aerial Equipment
Replacement.
Responsible Departmem: Fire
The Fire Department was recently notified that we have received a $450,000 grant from the
federal Assistance to Firefighters program for the purpose of replacing the Department's 19]]
snorkel. Ager considerable review, the Department has o nduded that Its needs as well as
those of Community can best be met by purchasing a combined pumper and 75 foot ladder unit.
A straight ladder truck, which offers lass versatility, is estimates to cost about $500,000. A
combined unit colli cost approximately $650,000. The advantages of the combined unit include:
Its ability to function as both a Wmper and an aerial allowing for Flexibility and maximbing the
use of collating firefighting personnel; returning the number of pumper units at Central Fire to
two; the transfer of our current 105 foot ladder to Station 6, reducing its frequency of use and
extending the life of what Is our most expensive piece of fire equlpment and revisions m our
equipment response protocols that may result In redudng the number of units dispatched on
certain calls. Please see the attached memorandum for more detalls.
This approach has been discussed with and reviewed by the Francs Committee which
recommends that the grant be accepted, that the Department be authorized to purchase a
combined unit in an amount of up to $650,000, and that the City's share of this purchase be
appropriated from the General Fund's undesignated fund balance.
Department Head
Manager's Comments:
This is the first of a series of Council actions that Will be required. In additlon m accepting this
grant, separate items are required to appropriate it, appropriate the necessary local funds, and
to waive our normal bid process so that the and of the calendar year deadline for expe ing
these grant funds can be met.
City Manager
Associated Orfomraton: Memo
Budget Approval:
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
Solititor
Imroduced for
% Passage
_ Fired Reading Page _ of _
Referral
MAR 24 711611
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08 129
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a CITY OF BANGOR
(TYRE.) ORDER, Accepting Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant— Aerial Equipment
Replacement.
WHEREAS, the 6angor Fire Department submitted a grant application requesting $625,000 for
the purchase of an aerial unit to replace the Department's 1977 snorkel; and
WHEREAS, a grant in the amount of $450,000 has been awarded for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, a local match of 10% is required by this grant program, increasing the potentially
available amount to $495,000; and
WHEREAS, after discussion, the Finance Committee has accepted the DeparlmenCs
recommendation that a combined pumper and 75 foot aerial unit be considered to
replace the snorkel; and
WHEREAS, the Department estimates that such a unit may cost up to $650,000; and
WHEREAS, the purchase of such a unit may require up to $200,000 in local funds; and
WHEREAS, theses additional funds may be appropriated by the City Council from the General
Fund's undesignated fund balance; and
WHEREAS, as a one-time capital expenditure, this purpose meets the guidelines far the use of
undesignated fund balance as set forth in the City's financial policies; and
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the City Council to appropriate the necessary funds to complete
this purchase;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CRY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR
THAT
A grant from the federal Assistance to Fire Fighters program in the amount of $450,000 to be
used for the purchase of a combined pumper and aerial unit to replace the Departments current
snorkel is hereby accepted.
PR CITYCODMCIL
March 26, 2008 E• 08-129
Motion Mad= and gecoaded j
for Passage ORDER
Pa ed
(MEd_ Accepting Federal Aesisl�an
CITY CLERK
Co Firefighters Grant - Aeriel
Equipment aad Replacement
q
Mrlgued b Countibr ���•`t
08 129
March 12, 2008
TO: Members of the Finance Committee
FROM: Jeffrey Cammack, Fire Chief
RE: Grant award for Snorkel Replacement
For the first time in FY07, Fire Departments were allowed to submit grant requests in
several categories to the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. We
submitted three requests: one for the replacement of our sell contained breathing
apparatus, the second for the replacement of one of our aerial pieces, and a third for
educational material for Fre Prevention activities. As you will recall, the first grant was
awarded and approved by Council for the replacement of 30 SCBM (self contained
breathing apparatus).
We were recently notified that our request to fund replacement of our Snorkel has been
awarded. This piece of equipment is housed at Station 5 on the Hogan Road. It was
purchased when Central Fire Station was built in 19]] and, as outlined in the Fire
Equipment Acquisition and Replacement Schedule, a due to be replaced in FY12 for
$650,000 of which $500,000.00 is to be provided through a Bond Issue. This unit has
limited utility to the Deparbnent. R is primarily used only at major fires where an aerial
water platform is required. Its major shortcoming is the lack of a ladder.
Our original grant request to replace the Snorkel was for $625,000. We have been
notified that we have been awarded $450,000 towards the purchase of a replacement.
This grant requires at least a 10% local match, or a minimum of $50,000, totaling to
$500,000 in available replacement funding if the grant is accepted.
POTEfdFIAL EQUIPMEHF TO BE PURCHASED
While an aerial piece is required, there are several alternatives available. The first
codon, which is estimated to cost In the $500,000 range, is a straight aerial piece with a
75 foot ladder. This unit would be placed at Station S. A second option, which would
cost approximately $650,000, is a combined ladder and pumper unit, normally referred
W as a "Quint". This unit would be placed at Central Fire, and our existing 105 foot
ladder to& would be moved to Station Six. The Command staff at the Department has
spent a considerable time discussing these options and has concluded that the purchase
of a quint, although initially more expensive, would be in tire best interest of the City
and the Department for the following reasons:
• Staffing at Central is adequate to allow the Depamaent W assign sufficient
personnel to this new unit to allow it W function either as an aerial or a pumper
unit. We are aware of other Deparbnents that have purchased Quinbe that do
not staff them adequately, thus limiting their usefulness. That wood not be the
casein Bangor
• Stationing the quint at Central Fre would provide us with two front line pumper
units at that station, restoring a capability that has been lost over time due to
budgetary constraints
A 129
• Such a dual use unit at Central will allow us to revise our equipment response
plans, potentially reducing the number of units required to be dispatched to
certain calls
• Transfer of our 105 foot aerial to Station 6 will reduce the number of responses
that this unit runs, potentially extending its life. This unit was purchased in
1990, and we hope that its useful life will extend to thirty years. The current
replacement cost for such a unit Is In the range of $1 million.
We have concluded, therefore, that the purchase of a quint will benefit the City by
improving the fire suppression capabilities housed at Central Fire, allow for mare
efficient overall equipment response patterns potentially reducing operating expenses
and liability exposures, and help extend the remaining life of the DepartmenCs most
expensive unit. We belleve that the initial $150,000 additional expenditure will be
recovered over time through reduced operating ossts and extended equipment life.
ai11:yaLVJN
The grant requires that we expend the funding prior to the end of this calendar year.
The normal came period between award of bid and delivery of a custom bulk aerial unit
ranges from 18 to 24 months. In order to meet the end of the year expenditure
deadline, we are also requesting that the normal bid process be waived and that the
Department be authorized to purchase an already built unit or a unit that is in the
process of being bulk and that can be del"wered this calendar year. The Department has
been successful In the past in purchasing pre -built units, both in terms of the
performance of these units and their initial costs.
FUNDING
We are in discussions with the Finance Director regarding potential sources of the local
match ($50,000) W the grant and the additional funds ($150,00D) that will be required
should the Council approve our recommend option of purchasing a combined
aerial/pumperunit
We look forward to discussing this with the Finance Commitee on Monday and will
attempt ten address any questions you may have at that time.